Alan Smith Takes A Swipe At Leeds United Fans As He Opens Up About Move To Manchester United

Alan Smith has spoken about his controversial move from Leeds United to Manchester United over a decade ago, and the former England international has shown his displeasure with the treatment he received from the Whites fans when he completed the switch from Elland Road to Old Trafford in 2004.

It was a time when both Leeds and Manchester United were heavyweights in the Premier League and there was a monster rivalry between the two clubs, so Smith's decision to leave the Yorkshire club for the multiple Premier League champions raised a few eyebrows with Smith making the switch to try and further his career.

However, after playing professionally at his boyhood club for six years Smith made the move to join up with Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, but received instant abuse from those fans that had adored him.

Now, Smith has chosen to speak to The Mirror about the infamous switch and has shown his disapproval of the negative remarks he received from Whites fans. 

He said: "Leaving Leeds to go to Man United caused a hoo-ha but I hope I got respect from the people I worked with and who managed me.  I would like to think Leeds could be proud of me going from Leeds to Manchester United because there is not many kids coming through the system from 10 years old who get to sign for one of the biggest clubs in the world."

“But it was a shame that people at the club who brought me through never got much credit for it because it had to be a bit hush-hush and people felt they had to hide it under a bush," added Smith.

Having been used in a more defensive way by Ferguson at Old Trafford, Smith only spent three years at United before heading to the north east and signing for Newcastle United, but his disappointment at the treatment he received from Leeds fan appears to still hurt a player that gave his all for a club he loved.